Dennis Naku
Kidnappers of the monarch of Ikuru town in the Andoni local government area of Rivers State, HRM Aaron Ikuru, have released a video of the monarch kneeling before them and making promises in an unidentified location suspected to be a creek.
The video showed the monarch kneeling beside two masked men wearing construction site coveralls, with their faces covered in red and black cloths and holding Ak-47 rifles as the monarch was forced to read their list of demands handed to him.
The gun-wielding hoodlums in the note disclosed that they snatched Ikuru, who is the Chairman, Andoni Council of Traditional Rulers, because the chiefs and elders of the area (Andoni) had failed to make peace among rival youth groups.
Part of their demands read out by the monarch reads, “I, His Majesty Aaron Miller Ikuru wish to state the main cause of my detention or incarceration for the past five weeks.
“The main issue is that we, the chiefs are unable to make peace in Andoni amongst the rival youth groups. The youths of Andoni are very unhappy with the chiefs, elders and politicians and also the inability of the elders to provide employment for youths.
“The youth are also insisting stoppage of indiscriminate arrest of Andoni youths and the unfortunate killings by government and chiefs of Andoni. With the sense of urgency, the chiefs, politicians and elders should address these matters; otherwise there will be killings of chiefs and politicians in Andoni.”
Shortly after King Ikuru read the demands, one of the kidnappers behind the camera responded that they will not spare any chief, elder or politician who failed to make peace in the predominantly coastal community.
According to him, “Alright, you all have heard what he had said. He is not saying it for himself alone. He is saying it on behalf of the chiefs and kings in Andoni Local Government Area and politicians.”
King Ikuru assured that the issue of peace would be pursued if he was allowed to breathe the aid of freedom, as it were.
“If by the grace of God I am released, I will ensure that this issue of peace is pursued with great vigour and I will sure to achieve it,” a visibly shaken monarch promised.